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NFL tells officials to eject players for helmet-to-helmet hits
NEW YORK (AP) -- The NFL has told its officiating crews to start ejecting players for flagrant helmet-to-helmet hits.
The new policy was outlined Saturday in a memo from supervisor of officials Mike Pereira, which was obtained by The Associated Press. It followed two fines last weekend for what the officiating department had determined were hits against players in defenseless positions.
One fine was against Washington Redskins safety LaRon Landry, who will forfeit a game check of $16,764 for a helmet-to-helmet hit on New York Jets quarterback Kellen Clemens. The other was against Philadelphia defensive tackle LeJuan Ramsey, who was fined his game check of $21,176 for spearing Dallas' Julius Jones.
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"Officials will be reminded this week to pay strict attention to these rules and disqualify the fouling player if the action is judged to be flagrant," Pereira wrote in the memo sent to the 32 NFL teams. "Actions that involve flagrant helmet to helmet contact are the likely acts that will include disqualification. Our commissioner and this office remain very focused on the safety of our players."
In the memo fining Landry and Ramsey, NFL director of football operations Gene Washington said emphasis would be on hits against players in defenseless positions.
Landry previously was fined $7,500 for two unnecessary roughness violations on Oct. 21 against Arizona. Ramsey was fined $5,000 on Oct. 14 for roughing the passer against the Jets.
After Florence was fined, the Texans complained that the punishment wasn't severe enough.
"We are disappointed in the sense that we have lost our starting quarterback for at least one game after the player took the crown of his helmet and delivered an illegal blow to Matt's jaw and the fine levied is only a small fraction of the player's weekly pay," general manager Rick Smith said.
"Is that equitable? The punishment doesn't appear to fit the crime when all factors are considered."
Nolan misses practice: San Francisco 49ers coach Mike Nolan missed his second straight practice Saturday for family reasons.
The 49ers didn't specify why Nolan was absent, but his father, former 49ers coach Dick Nolan, is known to be in declining health with Alzheimer's disease and prostate cancer.
Nolan returned to the Bay Area on Saturday shortly after the 49ers wrapped up their workout for Monday night's road game against the Seattle Seahawks.
Assistant head coach Mike Singletary ran practice for the second straight day for the 49ers (2-6), who have a six-game losing streak.
"I told him, 'Hey, just do what you have to do,"' Singletary said. "We'll be fine here, and when he gets back, we'll be ready to rock."
Dick Nolan, who played nine NFL seasons before coaching in San Francisco and New Orleans, lives in an assisted-care facility in the Dallas area.
Vikings give Williams paycheck: Grieving Troy Williamson will get his last paycheck after all.
Minnesota Vikings coach Brad Childress announced the change of heart Saturday after a weekly meeting with veteran players on his leadership committee.
The Vikings withheld Williamson's check after he missed the game against San Diego last week to remain in South Carolina following the death of his grandmother.
"I think the important thing is everybody grieves differently," Childress said. "That's the thing that I learned, or we learned, in this. In the end, it's not important to be right, but to get it right."
In addition, Williamson's older brother Carlton has been in and out of coma after a car accident in September.
Williamson thanked those who spoke up for him and offered support to his family during a trying time. He said he'll donate the returned check of more than $25,000 to charity in honor of his grandmother, Celestine.
"My wish is that the issue is over, and that I can now go about being a football player and putting this matter behind me," Williamson said in a statement issued by his agent, David Canter.
Childress said Williamson would play Sunday against Green Bay "in all likelihood."
Branch could return: If the Seahawks' Friday practice was any indication, Deion Branch may return from an injury in time to play Monday night against San Francisco. But triple-dinged Shaun Alexander could be out for the first time this season.
Branch, Seattle's leading receiver, returned to the field wearing a helmet and practice uniform for the first time since spraining his right foot early in the loss at Pittsburgh on Oct. 7.
The former Super Bowl MVP ran on the side without apparent pain or hindrance while the rest of the Seahawks practiced. He got a more extensive test in practice on Saturday. If Branch can't, Nate Burleson and D.J. Hackett will likely start again at wide receiver.
Alexander was nowhere in sight for the third consecutive day. He twisted his left knee and ankle during last weekend's loss at Cleveland. The lead running back, who has played the last seven games with a cast on his broken left wrist, was in the weight room running again on a treadmill.
If Alexander is unable to play, Maurice Morris will start.
©2010 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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